Notre Dame's Marcus Freeman shuts door on NFL interest, announces return to school

Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love talks to Fox News Digital about the team's decision to opt out of a bowl game after they did not make the College Football Playoff.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish head football coach Marcus Freeman shut the door on NFL opportunities on Monday, announcing he will be back with the program for 2026.

Freeman made the announcement in a post on X.

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Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman celebrates with his players after winning a NCAA football game 36-7 against NC State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, in South Bend, Indiana. (MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

"2026…run it back," Freeman wrote. "Go Irish."

Freeman’s name has popped up in the rumor mill since last season after the Chicago Bears started their pursuit of a new head coach and before they ultimately hired Ben Johnson. Freeman’s name was linked to the New York Giants’ job, as they will embark on their own head-coaching pursuit once the clock hits triple zeroes in their Week 18 game.

The smoke around the rumors grew once Notre Dame was left out of the College Football Playoff and opted out of the bowl game. The NFL season has one more week in its regular season and teams will start to make head-coaching decisions very soon.

He previously spoke to Complex News about the possibility of jumping to the NFL.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman leads the team from the locker room to play the Pittsburgh Panthers at Acrisure Stadium on Nov. 15, 2025. (Charles LeClaire/Imagn Images)

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